INFORMATIONAL

 This is to announce the fourth year of distribution of subgrant applications for 
funds available from the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF).  The TLCF is 
intended to assist with integration of technology into teaching and learning to 
ensure that all students are technologically literate by the 21st century.

The Department of Education has developed a competitive process to award 110 
subgrants (averaging approximately $53,000 each) to school divisions that propose 
creative, high-quality training programs to improve teaching and learning through 
proficiency in the use of technology.  Divisions will be required to serve as fiscal
agents for use of the funds, and to submit detailed budgets for their grant proposals.
Grant amounts will range from $30,000 to $60,000 dependent upon the amount requested
and recommendations of the evaluation committee.  The evaluation committee will base 
recommendations on the appropriateness of proposed grant-supported staff development 
activities as well as the detailed budget that supports the grant proposal.

Grant funding may be used to provide training opportunities for administrators and 
teachers as well as for parents, and for purchasing software and hardware to support 
the training.

In accordance with federal TLCF requirements, four categories based upon the 
percentage of students in poverty in a school division are used to determine 
distribution of the subgrants.  The percentage of students in poverty (Poverty 
Index*) and category will be preprinted on each division's subgrant application 
cover sheet.  The four categories and number of awards available are as follows:


Category I.	Twenty-two subgrant awards will be made to school divisions with a 
percentage of students in the poverty index between 3.04 and 11.36.

Category II. 	Twenty-six subgrant awards will be made to school divisions with a 
percentage of students in the poverty index between 12.10 and 17.82.

Category III.	Thirty subgrant awards will be made to school divisions with a 
percentage of students in the poverty index between 17.83 and 24.36.

Category IV.	Thirty-two subgrant awards will be made to school divisions with a 
percentage of students in the poverty index between 24.56 and 45.53.

A copy of the subgrant application will be mailed to each division superintendent 
and the technology coordinator by June 15, 2000.  Interested school divisions should 
plan to submit a subgrant application by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2000, to 
the Division of Technology, 18th Floor, Virginia Department of Education, 101 North 
14th Street, James Monroe Building, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

The subgrant application must be postmarked in accordance with the application 
deadline date and time.

Award announcements will be made on or before October 30, 2000.  Projects must be 
completed by September 30, 2001.

If you have any questions about the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Grant or the 
application process, please call (or email: gcreasy@pen.k12.va.us) Gordon F. Creasy,
Associate Specialist, Technology Division, at (804) 225-4430.


JLD/gfc

* Virginia Department of Education.  Fall Membership, 1999.
  U. S. Department of Commerce.  Bureau of the Census.
  Census Poverty Data, 1995.